he new Sale hockey pavilion is starting to shape. Federal Member Gippsland Darren Chester is pictured on site. The car park is now completed and awaiting seal; and the pavilion blockwork and steel framing is complete.

SALE PAVILLION STARTS TO TAKE SHAPE

Excitement is building as the new hockey field and pavilion being built at Gippsland Regional Sporting Complex in Sale is starting to take shape.

It is anticipated works will be completed mid-September, which is slightly behind original expectations.

Federal Member for Gippsland Darren Chester said the complex would be one of the best hockey facilities in the region once completed.

“It will all be worth the wait when members have access to their synthetic pitch and new clubrooms and pavilion,” Mr Chester said.

The Federal Government is contributing $600,000 toward the project, with $650,000 from the Victorian Government, $1.3 million from Wellington Shire Council, $1 million from the John Leslie Foundation and $50,000 from East Gippsland Hockey Association.

Mr Chester said he was pleased to see three Gippsland businesses working on the complex, which will provide state-of-the-art facilities and help to attract more regional sporting events to Gippsland.

“Drouin-based A1 Civil won the contract to construct the playing field and player shelters. Sale’s RAL Constructions is building the hockey pavilion, and Clint Kelly Excavations from Montgomery has the carpark and access road contract,” Mr Chester said.

Mayor Carolyn Crossley said the field would be used for a range of sports, not just hockey, and could be used by different sporting groups at the same time.

“We are building a high quality sporting facility that will be able to be used for hockey, soccer and touch football matches, as well as other sporting activities,” Cr Crossley said.

“It will be a flexible, modern, high quality sporting facility that will cater for a wide range of needs. There’ll be a meeting room, kiosk and social space in the pavilion. It will serve Wellington and the wider Gippsland community well for years to come.”